Anthony Gordon raves over Joe Edwards Everton impact at Finch Farm
Everton ace Anthony Gordon has admitted he has been “massively impressed” with Joe Edwards since he joined the club in January.
The two-time FA Youth Cup winner joined the Blues from Chelsea as part of Frank Lampard’s first-team Toffees coaching staff.
Gordon shared details on Edwards’ meticulous focus on the fine details on the 21-year-old looks to build on the promising form he has shown this season.
He told Everton: “Joe has massively impressed me, his football knowledge is second to none, among the best I’ve known,” says Gordon
“He is very approachable and I am always trying to learn from him.
“Every day, he’ll speak to me about little details. Ahead of a game, he might tell me to receive the ball on an angle that is different by a few inches. Or that if I run at a particular defender on a different angle, it will make a massive difference.
“As he says it, I am thinking [taps temple with forefinger], ‘That is right’ – and it is really impressive because I would never have thought of those things.
“He’s told me about top players he worked with who converted weaknesses into strengths – and he wants to help me do the same.”
Identity forming
This is great to hear. Disregarding the question marks that continue to hang over Lampard’s head in terms of whether he is good enough to lead Everton to Premier League safety, this is hugely encouraging.
The one thing that the former Chelsea boss has got right since arriving in his backroom staff.
He has the perfect mix of experience, people who understand the Toffees’ values, genuine winners and people who can come in a bring a fresh perspective – Edwards being one.
The problem for a long, long time for the Blues has been a lack of identity and direction at the club. Make no mistake, it still isn’t there and it is very difficult to see it happening in the immediate future.
However, this is the best shape the club has been in some time now with Kevin Thelwell also at the club as sporting director and long may it continue.
If Lampard navigates the relegation scrap successfully, this could be the start of a new era for the Blues.
In other Everton news, View: Frank Lampard should blame Harry Redknapp for one major Toffees blunder.
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